Retirement magazine cites Georgia Club
Where to Retire Magazine recently named The Georgia Club, a golfing community in Barrow and Oconee counties, one of America's Top 100 Master-Planned Community. Praised for its community amenities, well-designed golf course, architectural charm and proximity to the cultural offerings of Athens, The Georgia Club is featured in the July issue of the nationally distributed magazine aimed at retirees.

Lab raises funds for its expansion
Abeome Corp., a biotech company operating out of the University of Georgia's Georgia Biobusiness Center, recently raised $350,000 toward a $1.5 million funding goal to support operations and expand the company's lab, President and CEO Mike Wanner said.

Nelson: Grocery offers plenty of savings
Don't expect fancy displays, a myriad of brand choices, floral department, bakery or deli in the new Save-a-Lot store that opened in early June on South Milledge Avenue. Save-a-Lot occupies the former Bi-Lo and Southern Family Markets space at the Shoppes of South Athens.

Gathering at Sanford
New Athens Area Chamber of Commerce President Doc Eldridge will preside over his first official public chamber function during its midyear event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Sanford Stadium's skybox on the University of Georgia campus. The event is open to chamber members and nonmembers alike.

Carroll: American businesses must consider the 'China factor'
Clearly, China has become the world's manufacturer and supplier of products. Recent statistics reveal just how many of our products originate in China. China supplies more than half of all apple juice imported into the U.S., supplies 80 percent of the world's vitamin C, produces about 80 percent of all toys sold in the U.S., exports more advanced technologies to the U.S. than any other country and supplies more than 20 percent of all seafood imported into the U.S.

Business whirl: Norris wins St. Mary's employee award
Barbara Norris, an Athens resident and area cleaner with St. Mary's Hospital Environmental Services, has been awarded the health care system's highest employee honor, the Catherine McAuley Award, for "exceptional dedication to values such as compassion, hospitality and respect for the dignity of each person," according to a news release from St. Mary's.

Brief cases
Two partners plan to open a franchise of St. Simons seafood restaurant Gnat's Landing in Athens, likely by the end of August.

Thomas-Johnson marriage
Kimberly Dawn Thomas and CPT Jeremy Clint Johnson were united in marriage on the beach at sunset June 1, 2007 in Mexico Beach, Florida. Reverend Ted Lovelace of Mexico Beach officiated the ceremony.

Greenway-Grimes engagement
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Greenway of Winterville announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Katherine Greenway, to Matthew Ethan Grimes, son of Ms. Freda Evansnunn of Athens and Mr. David Fred Grimes of Walnut Grove.

Hanson-Bumgardner engagement
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Hanson, III of Athens, Georgia announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Lee Hanson, to Gregory Mark Bumgardner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Bumgardner of Clyde, North Carolina.

Pedestrian flees attempted robbery
A King Avenue man was walking home from his job in Colonial Promenade Beechwood about 11:20 p.m. Saturday, when three teenagers approached him and asked for money, the man told Athens-Clarke police.

Theft-plagued man loses shoes this time
A burglar kicked in the door of a 29-year-old Chateau Court man's apartment and made off with seven used pairs of Nike tennis shoes between 9:20 and 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

Burglars move A/C to break into home
An Athens couple living at the 1000 block of Oconee Street reported almost $4,000 worth of items missing from their home Friday night, Athens-Clarke police said.

Money taken from Burger King office
Someone stole an undisclosed amount of money from the manager's office at the Burger King at the 600 block of U.S. Highway 29 North Friday morning, according to Athens-Clarke police.

Marines charged with Milledge burglary
Four U.S. Marines based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., were arrested around 1 a.m. Sunday, after three of them went into Milledge Avenue home and stole a laptop computer while the owner was at a Braves game, according to an Athens-Clarke police report.

Car radios lifted at auto dealership
Between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon, someone broke into two cars parked at an automobile dealership at the 1400 block of Danielsville Road and stole the radios from both cars, Athens-Clarke police said.

Randal Ward: 'Right to Repair' should get a congressional OK
If you're like most folks, once your new car warranty expires, you like to take your vehicle to a repair shop you trust and that is convenient to your home or business. Imagine if you no longer could do that and had no choice but to return to the new car dealerships for the life of your car. This could happen.

John A. Coker: Fair Elections Now Act could initiate reforms
The news these days is full of references to the large amounts of money being raised by candidates of both major parties in the presidential race. Recent estimates place the total cash raised at about $2 billion. Such an obscene amount of money is used for seeking the nomination to run for election to one office, 16 months from now.

Tom Hurst: Vigilance on zoning is a true American value
Objections to the 196-lot subdivision proposed for Old Barnett Shoals Road in Oconee County at the Athens-Clarke County line are not a knee-jerk reaction against progress, and are most American in spirit, contrary to the Thursday letter headlined "Barnett Shoals area needs development." In fact, regional interest from multiple municipalities, based on its potential impact, was significant enough for the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center to review this project as a Development of Regional Impact.

Poetically disgruntled
Stephanie Astalos-Jones, one-half of the wildly witty women of "It Was Open Mic Night at Ye Olde Rustic Inn," the hilarious comedy show that saw nearly sold-out crowds at Cine in June, will perform a solo show featuring her own cast of characters at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cine.

Horoscope
CANCER (June 21-July 22) - It's to your advantage to put forth your best effort on whatever it is you choose to do, whether you get involved in a special work project or a social activity. You'll do great in either case.

Cobb house undergoes restoration
History and mystery are playing hide-and-go-seek with staff at the T.R.R. Cobb House museum, and curator Samuel N. Thomas Jr. hopes the public soon will enjoy peeking in on the fun.

Buscemi takes on movie remake, turning 50 and 'Sopranos' end
NEW YORK - In "Interview," Steve Buscemi plays a journalist interviewing a celebrity. Unprepared for the interview and disdainful of his subject's talent, he battles with an actress (Sienna Miller) through an evening that includes head wounds, shouting and kissing.

'The War' gains half hour for diversity
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Ken Burns, criticized for overlooking the role of Hispanic soldiers in his new World War II documentary, said nearly a half-hour of footage on Hispanic and American Indian veterans is being added to the film.

Today in history
Today is Monday, July 16, the 197th day of 2007. There are 168 days left in the year.

Visit Rock City
As much of a Southern icon as Stone Mountain or the Okefenokee Swamp, Rock City Gardens celebrates its 75th anniversary this summer. In commemoration, the park is playing host to 75 days of summer through Labor Day, Sept. 3. Each weekend features barbecue and live music with a special festival on Labor Day weekend.

Today in history
Today is Sunday, July 15, the 196th day of 2007. There are 169 days left in the year.

Lewis: Ready to shake off this slump
It seems that within the last week or so, my family has hit a sort of summer slump. The novelty of not having to report to school has completely worn off, to be replaced with something close to boredom (for my daughter) and weariness from farm labor (for my husband, who has plans to put his bored daughter to work next year). We've also suffered some from Georgia's version of cabin fever - when it's too miserably hot and humid to be outdoors.

Fighting continues in north Lebanon camp
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Militants holed up in a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon fired more rockets that landed in farm fields outside the camp Sunday as the army bombarded suspected hideouts inside the besieged settlement.

North Korea calls for end to U.S. sanctions
SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea said Sunday it is ready to permanently disable the nuclear reactor it just turned off if the United States lifts economic sanctions on the impoverished nation and strikes it from a list of terrorism sponsors.

China suspends meat imports from 7 U.S. companies
BEIJING - China has suspended imports of chicken feet, pig ears and other animal products from seven U.S. companies, including the world's largest meat processor, in an apparent attempt to turn the tables on American complaints about tainted products from China.

Congress to revive food labeling law
WASHINGTON - Shoppers are in the dark about where much of their food comes from despite a five-year-old law requiring meat and other products to carry labels with their country of origin.

Iraqi PM shrugs off doubts about government
BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki shrugged off U.S. doubts of his government's military and political progress on Saturday, saying Iraqi forces are capable and American troops can leave "any time they want."

Militants in Pakistan end truce with government
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Militants in northwest Pakistan disavowed a peace pact with the government and launched two days of suicide attacks and bombings that killed at least 70 people, dramatically escalating the violence in the al-Qaida infiltrated region.

Bush: War can be won despite report
WASHINGTON - President Bush took his critics to task Saturday for using the poor marks the Iraqi government received on a progress report this week as reason to argue that the war is lost.

Archdiocese to pay $600M settlement
LOS ANGELES - The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will settle its clergy abuse cases for at least $600 million, by far the largest payout in the church's sexual abuse scandal, The Associated Press learned Saturday.

Rally held in support of Genarlow Wilson
DOUGLASVILLE - Under the threat of a thunderstorm, about 2,000 marchers took to the streets in Douglas County on Saturday in support of a man being held in prison for having consensual oral sex when he was a teenager, despite a judge's ruling that he should be freed.

Putin withdraws Russia from arms control treaty
MOSCOW - Russia suspended participation in a key European arms control treaty Saturday, saying it will halt NATO inspections of its military sites and no longer limit the numbers of its tanks and other heavy conventional weapons.

L.A. cardinal apologizes to plaintiffs in abuse case
LOS ANGELES - Cardinal Roger Mahony, leader of the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese, apologized Sunday to the hundreds of people who will get a share of a $660 million settlement over allegations of clergy sex abuse.

Lady Bird Johnson remembered
AUSTIN, Texas - Former presidents, fellow first ladies and about 1,800 other people attended a private funeral Saturday for Lady Bird Johnson, celebrating her memory against a backdrop of the wildflowers and hymns that she loved.

Dirty energy still the trend in the South
WASHINGTON - Six of the nation's 10 largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions are coal-fired power plants in the heart of the South, clustered from Georgia to Texas.

Abbas, Olmert will meet today on Mideast amnesty deal
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Scores of Fatah militants in the West Bank have signed a pledge renouncing attacks against Israel in return for an Israeli promise to stop pursuing them, a Palestinian security official said Sunday.

Hadley: Threat level a 'source of concern'
WASHINGTON - The White House expressed concern Sunday about recent indications of a heightened terrorist threat level and said it points to a greater need to promote democracy.

UGA's ecology experiment
The bust of one of science's most respected ecologists stands at the entrance to what could be the nation's first university-level school of ecology with a ready reminder: The ecosystem is greater than the sum of its parts.

Oconee man to sue commission
An Athens landowner plans to sue Oconee County commissioners soon, after they rejected a rezoning proposal that would have allowed a new grocery store at LaVista Road and U.S. Highway 441.

Teens pull together to clean cemetery
Working in an old cemetery may have spooked 17-year-old Melissa Freeland at first, but that didn't stop the Winder teen from diving in to clear brush that covers acres of graves where generations of west Athens' black residents are laid to rest.

GOP move to scrap property tax spooks locals
ATLANTA - The details of an effort by House Republicans to overhaul the state's tax laws are still changing, as sponsors tweak the proposal to answer critics or avoid unintended consequences.

Doctor: Med school tied to Augusta
AUGUSTA - In the debate over opening an Athens satellite of Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine, no one is disputing the school is a statewide asset.

North Korea says it has shut down reactor
PYONGYANG, North Korea - North Korea told the United States it shut down its nuclear reactor, the State Department said Saturday, hours after a ship cruised into port loaded with oil promised in return for the country's pledge to disarm.

Conn. senator assails Edwards and Clinton
SALT LAKE CITY - Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd on Saturday criticized rivals John Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who were overheard discussing their hope of limiting the number of Democrats in presidential debates.

Lady Bird Johnson laid to rest at ranch
STONEWALL, Texas - Lady Bird Johnson arrived at her final resting place beneath a canopy of oak trees Sunday, beside the late President Lyndon Baines Johnson at the family's ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

Cockfighting still legal in Puerto Rico
ISLA VERDE, Puerto Rico - With cockfighting about to lose its last bastion in the United States, animal rights activists are training their sights on Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory where the blood sport is both a beloved tradition and big business.

When dogs fly
Bev Eitner wanted Cris to have this title for years, but he had to win it on his own.

Wrecks on deadly overpass down
Traffic engineers may have successfully tricked motorists into slowing down on a deadly overpass in western Clarke County.

Aide: Iraqi PM's comments were misunderstood
BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister statement was misconstrued when he said the Americans could leave "any time they want" an aide said Sunday, as politicians moved to end a pair of boycotts that are holding up work on crucial political reforms sought by Washington.

State should be paving way to the future
Maintaining serviceable roads through prudent use of tax dollars is one of the most basic responsibilities of state government. So Georgia taxpayers and motorists can be excused for wondering how it is that state Department of Transportation officials said last week the agency had run $445 million short of needed funding, forcing postponement of a number of road maintenance and safety projects, including some resurfacing work planned for Athens-area roads.

Magill: Mays enriched lives of all
It was a lucky day for Athens when Allen Mays finished his cardiology training at Emory School of Medicine and joined the Athens Cardiology Group. It was fortunate for my wife Rosemary and me when Allen, his wife Rachel and young son Madison became our neighbors on Woodlawn Avenue.

Picking up the pieces of culture
Optimus Prime means nothing to me. I recently read on Wikipedia (where I get all my information and don't care whether it's true) that he is the lead protagonist, or Autobot, in the Transformers universe. Good for him, but, to my ears, the name "Optimus Prime" sounds like a character a third-grader might create for a fiction-writing assignment. Unlike, say, the name Boba Fett, which clearly sprung from the mind of a fully grown genius.

Shipp: Congressmen prescribe dose of 'truth' for media
Congressman Phil Gingrey phoned the other night to tell me and a few dozen other folks that the war in Iraq was going a lot better than we had been led to believe. In one of those wonderful telephonic town meetings, he said the media had distorted what's really going on.

No win on immigration bill
Let's get this straight: The problem involves more than 12 million illegal acts, the safety of our borders, the basic protection of workers, questions of family unity, concerns about the erosion of the English language and the impact on our social service systems, just to hit the highlights.

Stage win gives Gerdemann overall lead
LE GRAND BORNAND, France - Linus Gerdemann of Germany won Saturday's seventh stage of the Tour de France to take the overall leader's yellow jersey as the race entered the Alps.

9- and 10-year-olds fall to Warner Robbins
SMYRNA - Warner Robbins American broke a 5-all tie and beat the Athens 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars 12-5 in the Georgia Little League championship tournament on Sunday in Smyrna.

Stewart rises to occasion
JOLIET, Ill. - Given the choice of making the difficult climb up the fence or easily stepping through an open gate after winning Sunday's USG Sheetrock 400, Tony Stewart was true to his nature by taking the most-difficult route.

NASCAR: Competition on the track
JOLIET, Ill. - The best car owner Rick Hendrick can do this afternoon in the USG Sheetrock 400 is send one driver to Victory Lane and three to the garage as losers. Such is the dilemma of a multi-car operation. There aren't enough victories to go around.

Delays mar opening day
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - The Pan American Games got off to a sputtering start Saturday with baseball postponements and reports of a delay in televising gymnastics, one of the premier sports at the event.

Notebook: Braves ready for a pennant race
ATLANTA - An inauspicious spot start on May 26 might have turned out to be the opportunity for Buddy Carlyle to do something he's never done before: Pitch with a chance at October on the line.

Rasmussen climbs atop Tour leaderboard
TIGNES, France - Michael Rasmussen won the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday to take the overall lead in the race after a second day of grueling climbs in the Alps.

British Open's Carnoustie features familiar but friendly look
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland -- Tiger Woods hit putts with one hand and held his yardage book with the other, studying Carnoustie on Sunday as if he were seeing this links course for the first time in his life. Considering what happened last time the British Open came here, it all looked so new.

Lee, Cubs hammer Houston
CHICAGO - Derrek Lee broke a streak of 126 at-bats without a home run with a three-run shot in the second inning to help the Chicago Cubs complete a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-6 win on Sunday.

Golf: Green maintains slim lead
SILVIS, Ill. - Australian Nathan Green moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory, shooting a 3-under 68 in the third round of the John Deere Classic and maintaining a one-stroke lead.

Notebook: Ford finally making progress
JOLIET, Ill. - Although Tony Stewart drove a Chevrolet Sunday to win the USG Sheetrock 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway, second- and third-place finishes by Ford were another sign that it finally is up to speed.

Harvick: NASCAR needs more drug testing
JOLIET, Ill. - A large part of NASCAR's success against drug abuse depends on race teams policing themselves, NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said. The sanctioning body wants drivers and crews to alert them when they think a competitor might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Francoeur puts Braves on top
ATLANTA - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jeff Francoeur hit a bases-loaded single up the middle to lift the Braves to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Renteria quietly takes on an important role
ATLANTA - You will not find him in the Braves' promotional materials. You will not hear him on the radio or on TV much. And you will not see him during Tuesday's All-Star Game in San Francisco.

Ichiro hit by pitch, exits
SEATTLE - Mariners center fielder Ichiro Suzuki left Sunday's game in the fifth inning after being hit on the right knee by a pitch from Detroit's Justin Verlander.

Biggio's role to be reduced
CHICAGO - Craig Biggio's playing time could be reduced during the second half of the season, especially on the road, as the Houston Astros give Chris Burke a longer look at second base.

Students can stay at UGA ecology lab - for now
AIKEN, S.C. - The beleaguered Savannah River Ecology Lab hopes to remain open - but with vastly reduced staff and resources - through the end of the year due to commitments that require some scientists and graduate students to fulfill obligations associated with research grants.